With the sudden changes and uncertainty employees have anxiously weathered this year, employee commitment has taken a hard hit; especially among top performers, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Employees have become dissatisfied as they are asked to do more with less, worry about instability, and often mistrust their employers.

But, employee engagement is imperative to any and every organization no matter the size of the company or the product sold. Results from a recent Gallup study involving nearly 32,400 business units showed those who had high employee engagement had 18 percent higher productivity rate and 16 percent higher profitability compared to those with lower engagement. Those with higher engagement also had 49 percent fewer safety incidents.

The level of employee commitment directly affects a company’s bottom line, and executives fear that disenchanted top performers will be wooed away when the economy and hiring recovers. So, what can you do to help increase engagement in your employees? Start with these five tips.

1. Increase communication. Communicating with employees on important issues like company financial standings and decisions is an important part of building trust and renewing commitment. Communicating clearly will prevent misunderstanding and lessen employee anxiety, stress, and mistrust. It is also important to communicate the direction, goals and vision of your company. Employees want and need a clear understanding of the company’s goals in order to see and fulfill their purpose and role within the company.
2. Empower employees. By offering training opportunities and creating an environment of growth, creativity, recognition, and autonomy, you will motivate and empower your employees to become leaders and experts in their field. The more involved an employee is in processes and decisions, the more committed they are to the success of your business.
3. Restore base pay and merit increases. Experts advise that if your company cut or froze pay and merit increases in 2008 or 2009, you should restore them to pre-recession levels as soon as possible. While pay freezes and cuts have been necessary, they do not come without consequences and have been directly linked to employee dissatisfaction and the current lapse in commitment.
4. Treat employees like customers. Employees need to know that they – like your customers – are valued. Use recognition to communicate how much you appreciate employee efforts and commitment. Consider using an anonymous company survey to determine the needs, attitudes, and overall satisfaction of your workforce to understand employee perceptions and make adjustments when necessary.
5. Get everyone in the game. Gone are the days when an employee’s work satisfaction rested solely on their feeling of stability. With new generations entering the workforce, employees want purpose and growth, so get them in the game by sharing your vision for the company and how it relates to the work they do. Help them understand the company vision, its importance, and purpose, and how its achievement will benefit them. Once they’re on board, provide them with the tools, focus, and direction they need to succeed.

Employees are a vital part of an organization and typically its largest investment. They can make or break a company’s reputation and success. When you invest in your employees, you invest in the future of your company. If you’re worried about the commitment of some of your top performers and need to re-engage your employees, start with these steps to build trust and renew the relationship between company and employee.

This article is published courtesy of Express Employment Professionals. The Burnaby office, located at 405-5050 Kingsway is currently taking applications. For more information, stop by the office, call 604-433-0353  or visit the Express Web site at www.expresspros.com

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The post 5 Tips for Boosting Employee Engagement appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.

It can be difficult to look beyond these circumstances and focus on anything else, though there are certainly positive things to look toward. Signs of improvement in the economy. Improvement in the job market. Opportunities that can arise from struggles.

If your team is overwhelmed by their present reality, now is the perfect time to add some joy into their lives. Finding creative and meaningful ways to thank your team for their persistence, perseverance, and commitment through this difficult year may be just the thing your employees need to get them energized. About the work they are doing. The people they are helping. The contribution they are making.

After all, leadership expert John C. Maxwell writes in The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, “When you do good, you feel good – when you feel good, you do good.” So, how can you thank your team for everything they’re doing well right now? Use these ideas as a place to start.

• Discover every win. Start by uncovering every win, from big to small, your team has had this year. After all, “Nothing boosts morale like winning and then celebrating it,” Maxwell notes. To discover your team’s wins, start by thinking about the things you are thankful for as a leader. Do you still have a team of talented people you work with? Are you making goals and plans for a successful new year? Did the challenge of this year bring to light possibilities your business has never considered before? Have you found new ways to do business or improved the quality of your customer service? Make a list of every accomplishment so you can encourage your team based on the victories they’ve achieved.

• Celebrate together. After you discover every win, find a way to celebrate with your team. No matter what your budget, you can find a way to celebrate your success this year.  If you’re on a tight budget, consider bringing homemade baked goods or desserts. It could be as simple as inviting team members to bring dishes for a potluck lunch and saying thanks by letting everyone take a double lunch hour to enjoy the meal together. You could go all out and host a holiday or gratitude party to demonstrate your thanks to your team. Making your celebration an event is a great way to build camaraderie and create lasting memories of celebrating shared successes.

• Give a gift that matters. Holiday bonuses may not be in the budget this year. But that doesn’t mean a gift of some sort has to be out of the question. If you have a small enough team, consider giving a personalized gift to each employee. Or, give the gift of time and offer an extra day of paid time off when the schedule allows. No matter how grand or small the gesture, a sincere gift from the boss can be a meaningful and valuable encouragement.

• Equip a positive reality. Celebrations, gestures, and gifts are all very important ways to encourage your team, especially as the holiday season approaches and we gear up for a great new year. But, don’t lose sight of the direction your team needs in order to move forward into continued success. After all, encouragement isn’t just about celebrating the destination, it’s about motivating the journey. So, before the year ends, set goals for your company, and encourage each team member to develop personal goals that will help them achieve the vision of a great reality. As a leader, the most important thing you can do to encourage your team is to equip them for continued success and improvement.

Every individual wants to know that their work matters and is appreciated – whether by a crowd of adoring fans or just their boss and team. Appreciation and encouragement are more than simply buzzwords. They are how we all measure our personal success and find fulfillment in our work. So, find ways to make your team feel appreciated this year so you can set the tone for a fantastic future.

This article is published courtesy of Express Employment Professionals. The Burnaby office, located at 405-5050 Kingsway is currently taking applications. For more information, stop by the office, call 604-433-0353  or visit the Express Web site at www.expresspros.com

Articles Related to Take Time to Thank Your Team:

• Fundamental Human Requirement – Recognition
• Boosting Employee Morale
• Retaining top employees by rewarding their achievements

The post Take Time to Thank Your Team: Set the Tone for Success through Encouragement appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.